On the day Animal Essay Contest winners are revealed, an entourage of proud parents, contest sponsors and Arlington Animal Services representatives led by City Council Member Sheri Capehart drop in on each school to announce who won what, which can often be up to 10 schools.

Butler Elementary, in North Arlington, was the last on the list but first in terms of accolades.

For the first time in the event's 13-year history, one school walked away with three first places and one second.

"This is astounding," said Chris Huff, who for years ran the City of Arlington's Animal Essay Contest. So enthralled by Butler's feat - three first place winners - she had to see it to believe that Butler's Emily Buechele was the third grade winner. Olivia Smith was the fifth grade winner and Heather Van Waasbergen was the fourth grade winner.

"We had 1,018 essays entered," Huff added. "We are grateful for the participation. We've never had a school win this many first places in the same year before."

This annual competition honors third through sixth graders for writing about animal-related topics with writing prompts such as "How would an overpopulation of homeless cats and dogs affect our local ecosystem?" and "What advice would you give a family about a new pet so that its offspring will not end up in the local animal shelter?"

Any Arlington resident regardless of educational home - public, private, charter, home school - can enter, and exactly 1,018 did, making this one of the more competitive contests. It's also open to Arlington residents attending schools in Kennedale and Mansfield.

Winners receive a multitude of goodies including a $100 savings account sponsored by EECU and Vantage Energy, plus a Kindle Fire. Awardees will be recognized next month during a City Council presentation; winners will also get a chance to tour the Arlington Animal Services Center. Interviews of first placers are broadcast on Arlington ISD TV.

"This is the best way for young people to learn about the welfare of animals," said Capehart. "For them to research and write about it. It's all about awareness."

Capehart has been on every one of these announcement days, which she calls "the best part." She's referring to the look on the faces of surprised winners who are even more shocked when their parent come strolling into the classroom.

Diversity has expanded in the entries with more home school and private schools getting into the act. Of the dozen winners, AISD had nine of them in a field that included charters like Classics Academy, International Leadership Academy and Park Row Christian, as well a Mansfield school.

Another tidbit: Heather Van Waasbergen's victory follows her sister, who won as a fifth grader two years ago. Proud mom Lori Van Waasbergen said her older daughter now wants to be a writer.

"She writes fiction, mostly," Van Waasbergen said. "After winning, she really fell in love with it."

This year's Animal Essay Contest is sponsored by the City of Arlington District 2 City Council member Sheri Capehart and community partners Vantage Energy, EECU, Star-Telegram and UT Arlington's TRIO Pre-College Programs.

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